In order to determine how to enhance the medical aid to Tibetan refugees who are living in India, Nepal and neighboring countries, we made a field survey of the medical situation in Dharamsala, North India, once in 1992 and again in 1994. The Tibetan refugee camp in Dharamsala functions as the center of the 35 Tibetan refugee camps that are scattered mainly in India and Nepal. The camp includes the Delek Hospital (85 beds), which specializes in Western medicine. The Department of Health of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile administers the Modern Allopathic System of Medicine [57 primary health care (PHC) centers and 6 hospitals] and the Traditional Tibetan Medical System (36 branch clinics). From 1992 to 1994, the number of the patients at the Delek Hospital clearly increased, but the facilities have not been renovated or expanded and the total number of staff members has increased only slightly. However, due to the poor equipment and the limited efficiency of the laboratories, the number of tests administered in a year has not increased in parallel with the increase in the number of patients. One of the most important problems is the shortage of the Tibetan allopathic doctors in the community, which is due to poor facilities, poor pay scales, and the limited level of medical technology and treatments.

India Medical conditions Medical assistance Tibetan refugees

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